I combine sharks with imagery of delicate flowers and soft female curvature to highlight the gentle nature of these commonly misunderstood creatures. The fear of sharks is a reason for the general lack of consideration that humanity has for our world’s oceans. As we know, the health of our coral reefs is in serious danger. One cause of this degradation is the killing of sharks for their fins: a process known as “shark finning”. Sharks are essential for a healthy reef ecosystem as they are the top predators who keep the numbers of other fish species in check. I believe that if we stop fueling the irrational fear of sharks and replace it with fascination and respect, there is a chance that we could re-stabilize reef ecosystems around the world and leave our future grandchildren with an abundant ocean to love, respect and explore.
Bio
Her dreams of the ocean inspire bright, bold, and attractive paintings that take your misconceptions of the sea on a roller coaster ride. Experience a world befriended by sharks yet still amongst the flowers of land. Marina Staubus makes the viewer feel at home in the colorful and idyllic worlds she creates. Born on the mainland in 1993, from a small town in Oklahoma, growing up, Staubus took every experience in the ocean to heart as if it could be the last. She now lives on Oahu where inspiration for her oceanic art is abundant. Staubus hopes to start working towards larger work and murals because she wants to share her message with everyone; not only those looking for it. Her most common imagery is a juxtaposition of sharks, flowers and female bodies designed to remove the fear of the unknown that one may have for the sea. Her end goal is to change this societal fear into fascination and respect, so that one day, our grandchildren will have the opportunity to experience an ocean as healthy or healthier than ours now.